World 5 months 2013: Hyundai Elantra biggest gainer in Top10

Hyundai Elantra

* See the Top 250 best-selling models by clicking on the title! *

As is now the tradition on BSCB, after exploring worldwide May sales in detail we have a further look at the year-to-date ranking to try and extract longer-term trends. And this month for the first time we can have a look at the year-on-year progression of the Top 20 models as May 2012 was when I started featuring more detailed worldwide models rankings on BSCB… First the elephant in the room: the Ford Focus has passed the Toyota Corolla to become the worldwide’s best-seller over the period thanks to sales up 13% to 462,168 units, boosted by a very strong performance in China. The Toyota Corolla is down 5% to 456,884 sales or just 5,000 less than the Focus, and the new generation sedan is about to launch in some parts of the world, so the race is still totally open for the title of 2013 world Number One nameplate. One thing is certain: both models will sell more than one million units in 2013. Very exciting times indeed.

Toyota Camry (Russian version)

We are now used to see the Hyundai Elantra on the third step of the worldwide podium or higher, but one year ago it was only #8. In fact the Elantra lodges the biggest year-on-year gain in the Top 10, up 28% and 5 spots to 389,463 sales, the difference mainly coming from China where the last generation launched in July 2012. The Ford F-Series is not far behind and has benefitted from a vastly improved economic climate in both the US and Canada, delivering sales levels not seen for the nameplate since 2006! It is up 21% year-on-year and 6 ranks to #4 and 358,301 units.

The Honda CR-V is now inside the worldwide Top 10

The next 5 models are down on their 2012 score, led by the Toyota Camry manhandled by the Honda Accord in the US (-7%), the VW Golf suffering from a relatively wobbly generation change (-4%), the VW Passat easing down in China (-1%), VW Polo cooling off in Europe (-3%) and the Chevrolet Cruze simply starting to get a little old (-8%). Reversely, the Honda CR-V benefits from the new generation progressively spreading across the world, up 4 ranks and 9% to brilliantly break into the Top 10 at #10 with 275,418 sales.

The Wuling Hongguang is sold as the Chevrolet Enjoy in India.

Outside the Top 10, notice the VW Jetta up a fantastic 18 spots and 41% (last year’s figures have been amended with the Bora and Chinese Jetta retrenched) mainly thanks to its success in China to #13 and 253,722 units, the Toyota Hilux up 11% to #14 with its Thai production now back to full steam, the Honda Accord up 12% to #19 thanks to a revival in the US and the Wuling Hongguang/Chevrolet Enjoy up a mammoth 84% to #20 with 223.224 sales. There are two Wulings in the worldwide Top 22 with the Sunshine at #22 albeit down 7 ranks and 10% year-on-year.

Toyota RAV4

Further down, the Toyota RAV4 gains 5 spots on last month to #33, the Kia K3 is up 4 to #41, the BMW 3 Series up 3 to reclaim its spot inside the worldwide Top 50 at #50, the Jeep Wrangler up 12 to #101, Nissan Rogue up 19 to #109, the Great Wall Wingle back up to #147 and the Ford Ecosport up 12 to #155.

Previous post: World May 2013: Toyota Corolla leads, Ford F-Series on podium

Previous month: World 4 months 2013: Ford Focus #1, VW Golf up to #5

One year ago: World May 2012: Toyota Camry up to #4

Full 5 months 2013 Top 250 Ranking Table below.